The NFL’s 11 best offensive tackles

You need to protect the quarterback in today’s NFL, and if you’re going to be a great tackle start there. Here are the est in the game.

1. Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens

(Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

It was hard, like it is for almost every position, to pick a top name. We’re going with Baltimore Ravens’ left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was almost perfect last season. Stanley allowed just one sack in 2019 (which came in the Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans) and one quarterback hit, which came back in Week 4. Yes, he has the benefit of Lamar Jackson playing behind him, who can escape from a variety of situation, but the Ravens also run a diverse offensive system which asks a lot of the offensive line.

And Stanley handles it all well.

In Week 2 he faced a tough test in Chandler Jones from the Arizona Cardinals, but as is broken down here by OL guru Brandon Thorn, Stanley was up to the test:

In that running game, Stanley does a great job in a variety of different concepts. Watch the execution on this outside zone play as he reaches the defensive end and then twists them away from the play:

Need a tackle who can climb to the second level in a flash? Consider that box checked:

A fun study is Baltimore’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on a mucky day inside M&T Bank Stadium. On this Lamar Jackson run, Stanley gets to the second level and takes linebacker Fred Warner out of the picture:

 

In the end though, to be an elite tackle you need to pass block. Remember, it’s all about protecting that spot seven yards behind the center. On this play from that same game, Stanley is matched up against Nick Bosa. He uses a quick set and wins the initial challenge, but when the talented pass rusher tries to counter, Stanley stays right on him:

As they say, a five-tool player. And an elite tackle in today’s game.

 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12